Only Murders in the Building season 1

Red-eyed and jet-lagged, Rebecca and Kevin are back from Podcast Movement in Anaheim with stories of their exploits with your (and their) favorite podcasters. They'll spill some tea over what caused some controversy a big name - "NOT a podcaster" Payne Lindsey from Up & Vanished - made an audacious, self-congratulatory presentation...and how some even bigger names in the room reacted.Plus, a true crime podcast update! A hungover R&K met up with old friend Lt Col James Weirick for an update on Bowe Bergdahl's court martial and the defense's move that could bode well for the disgraced former POW. (Audio of the full discussion can be found on our website - and beware, it's unedited and was literally recorded in a hotel hallway.)Back in the confines of Square Egg Studio, Lara & Toby chime in on A&E's new limited series, "The Murder of Laci Peterson." So far, the show seems to be playing the story down the middle, not sensationalizing its retrospective of the crime, and is of surprisingly high quality for a basic cable show.Then in Crime of the Week: our house is a very very very moldy house.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

1 Sep 20171h 23min

We're ready for our close ups! Our listeners asked and answered the hypothetical question, "If there were a movie about the Crime Writers, who would be cast to play them?" The results are in from #crimewriterscasting. Let's say three out of the four of us are satisfied with the picks.We grapple with "Black Hands" (see the play on words there?) - a true crime podcast about New Zealand's Bain family murders. Rather than a re-investigation or reexamination of the case, the ten-part series is a deep, DEEP dive into David Bain's second trial with narrator Martin van Beynen's ultimate argument that the jury got it wrong.Then we stream our way through Netflix's new series, "Ozark." With its comparisons to "Breaking Bad," how does this normal-guy-caught-in-a-web-of-criminal-enterprise TV show stand on its own? Have we seen this before? Or is it a fresh take on the emerging genre?In the Crime of the Week: the suggestion box is stuffed with requests to do something about the dead people piling up in the break room.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

18 Aug 20171h 16min

The Crime Writers tackle a pair of hot media properties this week with a look at the Discovery Channel's latest foray into crime with Manhunt: The Unabomber. This leads to a heated debate about how FBI profilers are portrayed in crime drama...and Rebecca joins #TeamToby for the first time!Then, a review of the second season of Homecoming, the dramatized podcast with a stellar cast from Gimlet Media. Is the show in a second season slump? Will Rebecca ever stop calling David Schwimmer "Ross from Friends?" We'll answer those questions and a whole lot more.Finally, our Crime of the Week gives the panel a chance to relish Toby's response.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

4 Aug 20171h 6min

So that happened...OJ Simpson got early release for his 2007 Las Vegas robbery conviction. After watching the "Parole Hearing of the Century," what do the Crime Writers think? Should the parole board have considered his past arrest in that infamous double murder case when making their decision?Since every other podcast is talking about Game of Thrones this week, we ask Toby to give his take on HBO's swords-and-sex mega-hit. Only problem is...he hasn't watched the first six seasons, so his WTF perspective is completely fresh.Let's travel below The Gnat Line with the new season of "Breakdown." Bill Rankin is back with a new tale of systemic breakdowns in the GA legal system. Episode one laid out the case of Devonia Inman. Are we intrigued enough to keep listening?Next we take a deep dive in the four-part podcast from the Australian Broadcast Company, "Trace." It's "Accused" meets "The Keepers." A woman was killed in her bookstore in 1980. The parish priests, one of whom molested her disabled son, were publicly hostile toward her. The panel weighs in on whether his cold case miniseries has enough "there" there to hold our interest.In the Crime of the Week - manscaping could have prevented this tragedy.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

21 Juli 20171h 13min

As David Lee Roth said, "I heard you missed us. We're back."A one-week break gives us plenty of time to listen to stuff. And catch up on the latest news from the world of true crime.We circle back for a listen to the sophomore installment of "Ear Hustle." Thank you again to Lt. Sam Robinson for approving this story.Lara reports on the whirling dervish that is the Brendan Dassey appeal. He wins. He loses. He loses again. The "Making a Murderer" supporting player isn't going anywhere soon. Will the state give him is court-ordered re-trial or just appeal to higher and higher courts? (Sound familiar, Adnan?)Next we look at Gimlet's new podcast, "Mogul." It tells the story of hip-hop executive Chris Lighty - the most important musical figure you've never heard of. The podcast is part biography/part hip-hop history lesson. Is Lighty's life story strong enough to carry this series and can the podcast appeal to listeners unfamiliar with his music?In Crime of the Week: A Florida man sits on a gun and then exactly what you'd guess happens.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

7 Juli 20171h 7min

Love mail galore as listeners weigh in on Ear Hustle, Toby's dog-like voice, and listening to our show during the most important moments of their lives (really!). Then, our take on the not-so surprising (but still upsetting) verdicts in the trials of Bill Cosby and Jeronimo Yanez, the cop that killed Philando Castille.In the back half, we look at a documentary that even Lara Bricker's fire chief husband enjoyed, Sour Grapes on Netflix. This tale of a high-end wine con man had us asking - do we give a crap when a smart guy bilks a Koch brother out of millions of dollars?And in our Crime of the Week, a Maine woman is more badass than we could ever hope to be.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

23 Juni 20171h 11min

What should Toby's standard karaoke song be? THE WORLD IS WEIGHING IN.Rebecca heard something in this week's Undisclosed episode on Adnan Syed's cross appeal proceeding that she REALLY wants you to hear. The judges really seem to get it...we think?S-Town is making SO much news as the trial of Tyler Goodson will now incorporate his part in the podcast as evidence. Should Brian Reed have used tape that put Tyler in legal peril? The panel is split. (Note: This episode was recorded before news of Tyler's arrest for animal cruelty.)Ear Hustle is finally here, and - spoiler alert - it's AWESOME. But we review it anyway. In our crime of the week, Florida Man is back! And he REALLY loves Hooters.   For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

15 Juni 20171h 10min

The State of Maryland got its bite at the apple, asking a three judge panel to reinstate Adnan Syed's conviction. The hour-long hearing dove more into Asia McClain and not-so-much into fax cover sheets. What's next for the "Serial" season one subject?We also talk about the latest epic filing in the Steven Avery case. Will "brain fingerprinting" save the day for the man at the middle of Making a Murderer? And what's up with Brendan Dassey's case?Did we forget to mention the CRAZIEST thing that came out of "The Keepers"? Like a particular body part wrapped in newspaper and thrown on the table during the interrogation of a priest? We're backing the train up so we can unwrap (sorry) that one.The Crime Writers spend more than 74 seconds discussing the podcast "74 Seconds" from Minnesota Public Radio. This look at the fatal shooting of a motorist by a cop (live-streamed on Facebook) tackles the familiar themes of race, violence, and law enforcement training. With some episodes exploring the back story of the players in the shooting - and other episodes providing real-time updates from the court house - 74 Seconds feels like two separate podcasts. What's working? What's not? We'll give our reviewIn Crime of the Week: Some wanted men just can't stop the music. How karaoke landed a fugitive in jail.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

9 Juni 20171h 16min